The WSU School of Music

Wichita State University's School of Music is housed in Duerksen Fine Arts Center and Wiedemann Hall, which is home of WSU's acclaimed Great Marcussen Organ. The School of Music offers programs that have been recognized and praised throughout the nation. The campus-community relationship is partly responisble for the strength of these programs, since the City of Wichita's cultural environment affords outstanding performance opportunities to WSU music faculty and students.

A diversified music faculty of 50 member serves the School of Music's 400 music majors. This faculty - and its proven commitment to students - si the central element in the school's stature and reputation, which are the culmination of the excellent quality of teaching demonstrated in the classroom, the rehearsal hall, and the private studio. All students study privately with a specialist in their major area. The combination of such teaching and the talents of WSU students has led to broad recognition of the School of Music's ensembles - bands, choirs, orchestra, opera theatre, and chamber groups - and to achievements by students and faculty in national and international arenas.

The School of Music, which includes program areas of music education, performance, musicology/composition, keyboard, strings, voice, and winds/percussion, offers courses and curricula designed to train and educate students who are planning careers in music performance or music education. In addition, the school's offerings allow students to gain an understanding of music as a humanistic study. Recitals by students, faculty, and guest are augmented by the overall coummunity programs in the fine arts.

The School of Music boasts three resident chamber ensembles made up of the applied instrumental faculty. THe Fairmount String Quartet, Lieurance Woodwind Quintet, and Wichita Brass Quintet all have active performance schedules, performing locally, nationally, and abroad, while also visiting public schools throughout Kansas. Rounding out their varied teaching and performing careers, all of these professors hold Principal chairs in the Wichita Symphony Orchestra. Other performing faculty ensembles include the Sotte Voce Trio and the Wiedemann Trio.

The musical experience provided to WSU music students are unique. The Wichita music community as a whole continuously works together to better the student and the learning process. Collaborations between the university, the Wichita Symphony Orchestra, the Wichita Symphony Youth Orchestra program, and the publich school music program result in an incomparably high level of learning. Eighty-four percent of the personnel in the Wichita Symphony Orchestra are faculty, sutdents, or alumi of WSU. Currently, eight members of the WSU Symphonic Wind Ensemble hold positions as professional instrumentalists in the Wichita Symphony Orchestra.

This site is maintained by SCHOOL OF MUSIC. This page last modified on Monday, August 08, 2011 5:08:46 PM Central US Time. If you find errors please bring them to the attention of Victor Markovich (victor.markovich@wichita.edu).